CALL OF EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 3

CALL OF EMPIRE

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN BEGINS "A SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY" FULFILLING OUR PROMISE^ ' Outside the main entrance of the Town. Hall on Saturday night a meeting, called by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), was held for the purpose of stimulating recruiting. There was a numerous attendance of the public. The proceedings were , enthusiastic, and the meeting -was regarded as a distinct success, resulting as ! it did in forty-seven recruits handing in their names. In the course of his opening remarks, the Mayor said that Germany wanted colonies. She had her eyes upon Australia and New Zealand, and if her people got a footing here they would assuredly treat our women and children in the same manner as those of Belgium. " Support has been promised to your ' pals ' at the Dardanelles," he said, " and I appeal to mothers and fathers to allow their sons to go. Let us from to-night assure those fighting at the Dardanelles end that support is coming — a plain, honest message that the boys from Australia and New Zealand are hurryiflg to their assistance to bring about a glorious victory and the lasting peace of the world." (Cheers.) The Hon. A. L. Herdman said the Mayor deserved the thanks of the citizens of Wellington for having inaugurated the campaign. Probably, better than any speech was the splendid spectacle of that afternoon, when 5000 of the best of our young men paraded through the city. (Applause.) Those young men had made up their minds that they were going to give up the pleasure of living for the glory of dying for their country. That sight would never be forgotten- The Mayor had appealed to the people of Wellington to take this matter up. He (the Minister) knew they would do their duty, but he desired to impress on them the fact that we have just now reached a point where spontaneous response may slacken. Since the war commenced, New Zealand had sent away 37,000 troops, including the men who went to Samoa. , Was not that a great thing for a country of a little more than a million inhabitants? (Cheers.) In addition, by the end of this month 10,000 more men would be in training, and the Dominion had also raised a Tunnelling Corps of 400 men, which the British Government had asked for. The country was to be confratulated on what it had done, but we ad now reached a critical stage, and we must see that every eligible man went forward to the firing line. (Cheers.) "Let me say this to the young men of military age," said the Hon James Allen, Minister of Defence, "now is your opportunity. We have to send 4000 men every two months. I know we will get them. And I know that when we are asked to fulfil a solemn responsibility like this we will want no legislative pressure brought upon us to make us do it. We want no conscription in New Zealand. I don't like the idea of conscription in New Zealand. ' I think that if the people are told what is wanted they will rise to the occasion. If you are kept waiting a little while, be patient. We will call you up as it is convenient. My last word to you is this : Don't make any spasmodic effort about recruiting, but look twelve months ahead and keep up the supplies. We want perpetual supplies of reinforcements. That is what Lord Kitchener asks for, and what we have promised to do. We will fulfil that promise. I want a message to go out to the boys before daybreak that 100 men banded together in the city to-day to say that they would follow on." (Loud cheers.) Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P. (who said he had three sons fighting for the Empire), and Mr. J. Jolly also addressed the gathering. The proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. ANSWERING THE CALL. The following forty-seven enrolled at the Town Hall and returned their papers from the doctor :: — > Dooley, Robert George, butcher, Trentham Camp Pedersen, James Andrew, general labourer, Wainui-o-mata Wheeler, Frederick William, shepherd, Wainui-o-mata Crawford, Harold James, clerk, Petone Wright, Percy M., painter, Wellington Hall, Harry L., labourer, Khandallah Anderson, Andrew, cook, Wellington Pierce, John, labourer, Silverstream Edwards, William, labourer, Silverstream Mathews, Rupert L., clerk, Wellington Shaw, James A., driver, Wellington Myers, Jeremiah, cook, Wellington Martin, James, clerk, Wellington Muir, Leonard George, driver, Wellington Scaife, Harry 0., seaman, Wellington M'Arley, James L., clerk, Wellington Campbell, George M'K., Civil servant, Wellington ' Fairbrother, Eric Charles, engineer. Wellington Beard, William W., driver, Wellington Beard, Frederick 8., tailer-out, Wellington Garner, Archibald, Government Shops, Petone Lepper, J. 0. H., Government Shops, Petone Eades, Frank E-, driver. Wellington Boon, Frank A., cook, Wellington Barker, Frederick H., mechanic, Wellington. Stevens, William John, driver, Wellington. Wilton, William E., plasterer, Wellington Rogen, John R., accountant, Wellington Gibson, James T. A., Trentham " Hazelwood, Walter J., timekeeper, Lower Hutt Headifen, James, driver, Wellington Pye, Arthur Charles, plant-propagator, Wellington M'Gillivray, Robert D., Wellington Trim, Francis E., railway employee, Wellington Turton, Bryan H., electrical engineer, Wellington Blanch, Herbert George, builders' labourer, Wellington Manson, Nealy Roy, chemists' assistant. Wellington Vince, George Bert, wire mattressmaker, Wellington Laweon, Lionel John, clerk, Wellington Nad en, Frank N., clerk, Wellington i Haig, Joseph S., clerk, Wellington j Bramley, Albert M., milkman, Wellington Beacock, John A., driver, Wellington Skinner, Albert George, motor tyre maker, Wellington Gaudin, William, carpenter, Wellington Burke, Patrick, machinist Wellington M'Kenzie, Kenneth, farmer, Masterton. The office a.t the Town Hall will be open to-day and following days for the following hours: — 11 a..m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-